Outbreak

A Dangerous Proposal

Day 4̶̡̥̒͠8̵̢̎

Sabre's P.O.V.

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Since I have a pretty good idea where M is headed, I decide to teleport straight into the lab. Unfortunately, before I can get through the first two rooms, Assistant Steve comes wheeling in, clearly annoyed.  His red eyes glow brightly, and steam literally pours from his ears.  I hesitate as he stomps toward me, his wheels retracting so the sound can echo through the iron-plated room. 

"Haven't I told you not to just teleport in like that?"  he asks, exasperated.  "We've already got the Red Apprentice popping in whenever he wants, we don't need you, too!"  A screen on his arm flashes, and the robot glances down, momentarily distracted.  Professor Red's voice issue from a small speaker.

"Assistant Steve, is that Sabre?  Send him down here, will you?  I need his help for something."  I snicker at Assistant Steve's affronted look, but it breaks off into a yelp as he lifts me up in one arm and starts rolling at a breakneck pace down the hall.

"Hey- let me go!"  I struggle to break free, but the metal contracts around me.  "Dude, I can walk."  He completely ignores me, and when I manage to look up at him, I realize there's a mute symbol blinking on his arm screen.  Oh great, he can't hear me.  That's one way to get around orders.

"Here you are, Professor!"  Assistant Steve says brightly, dumping me onto the floor of another room.  My head is still spinning, and I'm nauseous from the ride, so I take a moment just to lay on the floor, staring up at the three startled Red Steves.

"You alright there, Sabre?"  M asks after a beat of silence.

"Sure."  I grumble, getting my footing.  "But I hate when he does that."  I look around to see a familiar machine.  We're in the portal room again, although the nearby desks are littered with half-drawn blueprints and papers that weren't there before.  Judging by the clumsy stacks, Professor Red must have been working through the night on this plan.

"Wait, how did you get here?"  Red Leader asks, doing a double-take.  "I know you didn't come with my apprentice."  In response, I hold up the little device.

"I borrowed Assistant Steve's teleportation device, since it also works for me."  I explain.  "It saves me the trouble of finding someone who will take me here without questioning anything."

"Oh, that's good."  replies the leader, while Professor Red's eyes widen in surprise and he tries to snatch it back.

"You can't take my device!"  he protests.  The leader rounds on him.

"You can teleport just fine."

"But Assistant Steve can't."

"Professor, where does Assistant Steve teleport to that he can't go by foot?"

There's a heavy silence in the air.  Professor Red opens his mouth a few times, but can't seem to think of a convincing explanation that does not involve Assistant Steve illegally leaving the kingdom.

"Perfect, so I can keep it."  I interrupt.  "Now, what did you want me for?"

"Well, as you may have heard, I've been developing a genius plan to stop our enemies."  Professor Red says, straightening his lab coat.  "One involving a portal and an energy source."

"I don't know the details."  I admit, and Professor Red gives a smug look as he crosses to a whiteboard in the corner of the room.  I can tell he's been dying for an excuse to use it.